With the rise in COVID-19 infections and deaths around the globe, the virus is not only changing how people around the world are living, but also how they are dying. 

Religious burial and mourning traditions have been forced to change in response to COVID-19, in Israel. 

According to Reuters, those of the Jewish faith are usually buried in a cloth smock and shroud instead of a coffin. Instead, bodies are now being ritually washed by people in full protective gear, and then wrapped in impermeable plastic. 

In Muslim communities, families must now wait 48 hours to pick up their loved one's remains before beginning the burial process. Bodies are also no longer being washed or shrouded, and are being buried in plastic body-bags. 

In the U.S., many COVID-19 victims are going straight to burial or cremation, without family members or friends getting a chance to see the bodies. Funeral home staff also have to wear full protective gear while preparing the remains. 

However, in places such as New York City, one of the hardest hit cities in the U.S., there are so many deaths that cemeteries and crematories are backed up. 

Social distancing guidelines are also affecting how funeral homes conduct wakes. With social gatherings restricted and small groups of people having to maintain at least six feet apart, family members can’t hug or hold hands. 

These changes to the mourning process has led to an increase in virtual memorials. Family and friends of the deceased are using video conferencing programs as ways to "meet" and hold vigils.

They're also forming online groups through social media to help people cope with the losses.